NDP MP for Winnipeg North Judy Wasylycia-Leis speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on October 23, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS
After more than a decade as MP for Winnipeg North, veteran New Democrat and former Manitoba cabinet minister is leaving federal politics

Effective May 1, Ms. Wasylycia-Leis will resign the Winnipeg North seat she has held since 1997.

A former culture minister in the Manitoba provincial government of Howard Pawley, Wasylycia-Leis says it's the right time to move on.

She says she wants to spend time with her family before making an announcement about her future.

Ms. Wasylycia-Leis, 58, represented the Winnipeg seat once held by legendary New Democrat MP Stanley Knowles.

She served as caucus chair, finance critic and health critic, winning support for some key legislation, including fetal alcohol syndrome warning labels on alcohol bottles, prohibitions on candy-flavoured cigarillos and improved toy safety standards.

NDP Leader Jack Layton said Ms. Wasylycia-Leis has been one of the country's most determined and effective health-care advocates.

“Judy has been a warrior on this issue in our caucus,” Mr. Layton said in a statement, echoing praise from Shirley Douglas, daughter of medicare founder Tommy Douglas, who once called her “Canada's medicare warrior.”

“She has been a much-valued member of our caucus,” Mr. Layton said. “She will be a hard act to follow.

“I wish her well in her next adventure. I know she will always be a loyal member of the New Democrat family. We'll miss her cheerful can-do attitude.”

this move has been rumoured for a little bit , anyways today we found out for sure that she was leaving Ottawa for a likely municipal run . so jack loses a second female mp from western canada .

as for her riding of Winnipeg North its an urban ndp stronghold that is unlikely to change hands at the present time and not particulary a strong riding for the cpc in winnipeg . although they have made some gains there in recent elections but still not got much more than 20% of the vote there . the liberals may target the riding but got less than 10% in 08 election so have a long way to go before they'd even be close to the ndp .

its also unclear if there'd ever be a by-election here or not as she is leaving may 1 so one is possible but maybe not that likely rate away .

her riding is a north end hell hole full of native dead beats, criminals, teen aged moms and crack whores you don't want the riding.she is running against our conservative mayor sam katz and he leads her by 15-20 points in the polls she is just the torch bearer for the left here in winnipeg but she will lose big time.

her riding is a north end hell hole full of native dead beats, criminals, teen aged moms and crack whores you don't want the riding.she is running against our conservative mayor sam katz and he leads her by 15-20 points in the polls she is just the torch bearer for the left here in winnipeg but she will lose big time.

First of all, your language is highly inappropriate - I live in Winnipeg North and is nothing like what you described.

Well job or no job she is now positioned to be a welfare drag on the rest of taxpaying Canadians with her gold plated pension. Unless she is really NDP and is going to donate it to a good cause, but won't hold my breath.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou can attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum